Obviously, not seen the film (The Passion Of The Christ) yet but I definitely want to see the film for the same reasons I wanted to see Saving Private Ryan because it's an interpretation of a supposedly historical event.

It doesn't bother me that it's bloody or violent. If it makes people discuss the life of Christ and his death and resurrection then all power to it. The only problem I would have is the crass and tacky merchandising that the film has led to. The film itself, IMO, does not appear to condone or encourage any anti-semitic feeling. It is a film meant to make the audience feel uncomfortable and encourage discussion. What's the harm in that?

(Edited by Whistler 07/03/2004 00:07)

Not a patch on The Passion of St. Tibulus.

Isnt mel gibson like a devout christian? kevin smith got the same reaction for dogma even before anything more then "its about religon" came out there were rallies against the film, he even went into the protest crowd and asked them what it was all about and rallied with them for a while and they didnt have a clue who he was and that they were protesting against him. (gotta love his sense of humour)
Kevin Smith is deeply religous he has made sure he let that be known in most of his interviews and that to him it wasnt blasphemy.

---

by Sydney
[libellous quote removed]

---

I think that's a dangerous claim to make and one that you can't really back up.

Mel Gibson is indeed a devout Catholic, so devout in fact that he denies all of the Vatican II's reforms. It's true that his Father is a holocaust denier and that when questioned about it in an interview, Mel Gibson got very uncomfortable.

But if your Dad denied the deaths of 6 million people, and being associated with him could potentially kill your career, wouldn't it make you uncomfortable?

Until Gibson says something that is anti-semitic then i think he should be given the benefit of the doubt. I certainly don't think saying his Dad doesn't lie to him is enough to label him as an anti-semitist.

As far as the film is concerned, i'll definitely be going to see it. The reviews i have seen vary, many of them criticise it for being historically inaccurate (what film isnt?) and horribly violent, but they also say the performances in the film are fantastic and that it has some good cinematography. I'm certainly willing to go and witness it for myself, see the violence and see how i react and ultimately judge the film for myself.

Is it anti-semitic? I don't know, because i haven't seen it. Gibson has taken an important event in his religion's history and translated his interpretation of it onto celluloid. If it is anti-semitic, maybe we should question whether [edit for libel] his religion and the text [it] is based on [is anti-Semitic].

As i said, ultimately i want to go see it and judge for myself. I'm definitely not going to condemn Gibson before then.

(Edited by Maffrew 08/03/2004 11:47)

(Edited by Byron 08/03/2004 14:22)

To clarify the stream of edits: while it is acceptable to debate whether The Passion of the Christ is anti-Semitic, please do not direct allegations against any individual either named or whose name can be inferred from your comments.

---

by Sydney
Have you any idea how libellous your comments were? I'll assume not, or you wouldn't have posted them. Any more defamatory comments and this thread will be closed pronto!

(Edited by Byron 08/03/2004 14:08)

---

Apologies... I was almost directly quoteing what I'd read in a national newspaper recently and so assumed that it wouldn't be a problem re-stating it here.

(Edited by Sydney 08/03/2004 15:17)

---

by Sydney
Apologies... I was almost directly quoteing what I'd read in a national newspaper recently and so assumed that it wouldn't be a problem re-stating it here.

---

Fair enough, but they have expensive lawyers to check over every word and we, well, don't.

---

by Cat
I thought tarenteno(sp) was bad, this seems worse.

This seems graphic. too graphic for my tastes.

---

Right to start with Tarintino films arent really graphic to be honest much of the violence is cartoon like.

This is a film of the last hours of Christs life which I would imagine culimnates in him being nailed to a cross (sorry to spoil it for anyone ) so its going to violent and graphic.

Whether its antisemitic I havent seen it so it depends, various religions get on their high horse about a lot of movies and I doubt its going to change the world.

Its intresting whether you can can claim that it is Antisemitic as the whole basis of the Christian (Catholics,C Of E and the other hundreds of groups)faith is based round the teachings of a Jewish person.

You people need to watch a few Canniable Holocausts and Come and Sees before you call Kill Bill graphic.

I've always found Tarantino, like all good directors, to play on what you *don't* see. Everyone's convinced they've watched Michæl Madsen make sure a cop won't much use for hats when in fact, as the DVD altenate-take shows, if they had they'd be sniggering in the isles.

Hence why Kill Bill was such a glorious charnal house!

---

by Byron
You people need to watch a few Canniable Holocausts and Come and Sees before you call Kill Bill graphic.

---

Ive seen Cannabile Holocaust and have no inclination to any more these sort of films as it to be honest bored me. I have no problem with violence in films In fact somrtimes I enjoy it. What I was saying in Tarentino films is the violence that is seen is almost cartoon like.

---

by JtB
Right to start with Tarintino films arent really graphic to be honest much of the violence is cartoon like.

---

His film(s) are interisting, but the violence was not cartoonish for me.

Die hard-shoot-em-up's are cartoonish. Bang, you're dead, no reality, no suffering.

I have only seen 1 Tarintino movie, the 1 with uma thurman, john travolta, samule l jackson... what ever it's name i couldnt watch it all *cringe* it was too real.

---

by JtB
Its intresting whether you can can claim that it is Antisemitic as the whole basis of the Christian (Catholics,C Of E and the other hundreds of groups)faith is based round the teachings of a Jewish person.

---

True, but the New Testament was written under the rule of the Romans, of course it would shed them in a good light, the disiples didnt want the same! Also this film follows the most anti-jewish book in the NT. there were others to choose from.

---

by By
Hence why Kill Bill was such a glorious charnal house!

---

Havent seen it, dont want to see it, wasnt refering to it.

But this is off the point. I have read of the terrors of crucifiction. awful! i dont want to see it for the same reason i dont read details on child abuse victims, they keep me awake with their horror.

Oh, and if Mel Gibson is such a devoute Roman Catholic, why [defamatory comment removed

(Edited by Byron 12/03/2004 02:05)

---

by Cat
[snip]

---

maybe i missed it all but what proof [libel removed] newspaper say so's dont count otherwise three headed babies born to alien abductees would populate the world according to some )

(Edited by Byron 12/03/2004 02:54)

Are people trying to get this site sued? I said if any further libels were posted that this thread would be closed, and I meant it.

Please do not post a new one until *after* The Passion of the Christ has been released; this discussion isn't going anywhere until we can actually see the film for ourselves.

Cat: this is the third time you've been warned about posting libellous comments. If there are any more, your account will be suspended and appropriate action taken. Consider this your *final* warning.